Roger Jones (footballer, born 1902)

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Roger Jones
Jones in 1929
Personal information
Full name Reginald Jones[1]
Date of birth (1902-09-01)1 September 1902
Place of birth Burslem, England[1]
Date of death 11 December 1967(1967-12-11) (aged 65)[1]
Place of death Bradeley, England[1]
Height 5 ft 7+12 in (1.71 m)[2]
Position(s) Left-half
Youth career
Middleport
Ravensdale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1923–1937 Port Vale 326 (19)
Total 326 (19)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Reginald "Roger" Jones (1 September 1902 – 11 December 1967) was an English footballer who played at left-half for Port Vale from 1923 to 1937. He made a total of 346 appearances, 326 of which came in league games in the Football League. He helped the club to win the Third Division North title in 1929–30.

Career[edit]

Jones played for minor non-League sides Middleport and Ravensdale, before joining Port Vale in July 1923.[1] He made his Second Division debut in the 1923–24 season, but remained a bit-part player in 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, and 1927–28.[1] He scored his first senior goal on 10 March 1928, in a 3–1 win over Southampton at The Dell.[1] He hit four goals in 19 games in 1928–29, including two in an 8–1 demolition of West Bromwich Albion at The Old Recreation Ground on 9 March.[1] Despite this comprehensive victory, Vale lost 17 of their 21 away games, and were relegated at the end of the season.[1]

Vale rebounded straight away by winning the Third Division North title in 1929–30, with Jones featuring in 38 league games throughout the campaign.[1] His championship medal was valued at an auction in 2020 at £1,000.[3] The 1930–31 season was the club's most successful in terms of league position, as Vale finished fifth in the Second Division, just three places and seven points short of promotion into the First Division.[1] He struck two goals in 28 games in 1931–32, with both of his goals coming in a 2–2 draw with Millwall at The Den on 3 October.[1]

Jones featured 41 times in 1932–33, 29 times in 1933–34, and 30 times in 1934–35.[1] He scored once in 38 appearances in 1935–36, as the "Valiants" were relegated; Vale had finished just one point behind Barnsley, who avoided the drop.[1] Jones was released at the end of the 1936–37 season.[1] Ironically he had just posted his most prolific season, scoring nine goals in 39 games, including hat-tricks against Mansfield Town and Halifax Town.[1]

Career statistics[edit]

Source:[4]

Season Club Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 1923–24 Second Division 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
1924–25 Second Division 11 0 2 0 0 0 13 0
1925–26 Second Division 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
1926–27 Second Division 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
1927–28 Second Division 8 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
1928–29 Second Division 18 4 1 0 0 0 19 4
1929–30 Third Division North 38 0 3 0 1 0 42 0
1930–31 Second Division 40 1 2 0 0 0 42 1
1931–32 Second Division 27 2 1 0 0 0 28 2
1932–33 Second Division 40 1 1 0 0 0 41 1
1933–34 Second Division 28 0 1 0 0 0 29 0
1934–35 Second Division 29 0 1 0 0 0 30 0
1935–36 Second Division 35 1 3 0 0 0 38 1
1936–37 Third Division North 36 9 1 0 2 0 39 9
Total 326 19 17 0 3 0 346 19
Career total 326 19 17 0 3 0 346 19

Honours[edit]

Port Vale

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 158. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ "The lure of promotion. Port Vale". Athletic News. Manchester. 13 August 1923. p. 6.
  3. ^ "Medal presented to footballer 90 years ago found at Bishton". hansonsauctioneers.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  4. ^ Roger Jones at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  5. ^ Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.